1936 Gibson-made Kalamazoo KHG-11 Flattop Guitar

While I've worked on the mahogany-topped Mastertone Special squareneck versions of this same guitar style, I haven't worked on this official KHG-11 "Hawaiian" model before. It was originally made with a tall nut and non-compensated saddle for raised-string, slide/Hawaiian play like on a Dobro -- and that's how it came into the shop via its owner for some TLC.

I converted it over to "Spanish" style and I'm happy to say it's a big success -- this guitar has a more-lush, fuller sound than your average KG-11, but loses a tiny bit of snap, two frets of access, and a narrower nut to gain that extra presence.

It's a good-looking guitar and has the "rooftop" K'zoo headstock shape, black-to-medium-brown "spotlight" sunburst look, firey pickguard, and sports no cracks. That, alone, is a rarity.

Work included: a neck reset, fret level/dress, bridge recut and saddle-slot relocation, side dots install, recut of the original bone nut, a new compensated bone saddle, general cleaning, and a setup. The neck is straight and action is spot-on at 3/32" EA and 1/16" DGBE at the 12th fret. I have it strung with 52w-11 gauges but it could probably take 12s just fine.

Scale length: 24 3/4"

Nut width: 1 32/32"

String spacing at nut: 1 5/8"

String spacing at bridge: 2 3/8"

Body length: 17 3/8"

Lower bout width: 14 3/4"

Waist width: 9"

Upper bout width: 9 7/8"

Side depth at endpin: 4 1/8"

Top wood: solid spruce

Back/sides wood: solid mahogany

Neck wood: mahogany

Bracing type: ladder

Fretboard: Brazilian rosewood, bone nut

Bridge: Brazilian rosewood, new bone saddle

Neck feel: medium-big soft V, ~10" board radius

Condition notes: converted from Hawaiian setup, all-original save new bridge pins and saddle, one replacement (but period-correct) tuner shaft/button/gear set, very minor usewear throughout. It's rare that a clean KG like this comes through my shop.